Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-12-22

"All right! No danger of any one
stealing il, and I'll be sure and not sell
itr'
And so it came about that fell into
the hands of Tim Morrison, was carried
home and stored in an unoccupied room
of the tenement house that sheltered
the boy, his widowed mother and little
invalid sister.
After Nellie was asleep, Tim and his
mother brought in the light and looked
at me
'.How beautiful" said the mother,
land how good of you to think of It'll
1t makes me as happy as it will Nellie
when Christmas eve comes and she finds
what n brothers kindness has brought
her.
THAT is an ugly twist in the tree
there. Mr.. Delano said that was the
reason no one woul buy it. But do
you know thought, in minu G, that
we would have Il down in Auntie
Burkc's room. and that we would put
this bare side close to the wall. and
that crook would just fit around the
bend in her chimney"
And so my mission had really COM
menced and began to think that my
lily shapen form was worth enduring,
even though it had been given me only
to tit around chimney.
Such talks as mother and son had
over me in that deserted room! Such
planning to make much out of little,
and little from no hing! 1t really made
my heartachc, and longed to be some
thing more than a tree something hu-
man, that l might aid these loving
workers. Sometimes my branches
would stir with emotion. But they
never mistrusted it, The mothers
eyes grew brighter as. wrapped in a
shawl, she sat beside me sewing after
little Nellie had fallen asleep. Her face
would sometimes wear a younger look,
as though she were" living over again
her girlhood' days. And once when
she had finished q cloth doll and dressed
it in some garments she had made, she
smiled and heard her singing softly
some old fashioned air.
won't Nellie be happy, motherP"
Tim kept saying as he worked away at
a cradle he was shaping for the wonder
full doll.
"Indeed she will and so will you and
iW
It would be impossible for me to tell
you the gladness that came to these
peo lie from the veriest tritle. Auntie
Burke entered into the scheme rs heart
lily as did Tim and his mother; and,
though poor herself, she frightened her
room to make ready for the coming fes-
tival, and gave OF her small store most
willingly.
BLESS the child. little suff'ererer that
she is! 1t would be q pity il a great
strong woman like me couldn't do bit
to make her Christmas glad!'
she it was who hunted up the pretty
print for the dolls dress An unused
curtain of hers made the neat clothing
| for the bed Tim whitfield out, and her
self-denial furnished corn enough to
decorate my branches.
Mr.. Delano was not forgetful OF his
| promise to the boy, and the result was
| paper of candy, nuts and fancy crack
ers, few wax candles and toy or two
that in Tim eyes were beautiful be-
yond expression. Then, as though to
add to their enjoyment, Tim came
bounding home one night with the Won
derful news that his weekly wages had
DeeU TdIScu bWcHty -uNC CtutS, stb'', ~ po
ing Christmas time. he had been paid
for the week just ended.
"Oh, mamma. may spend just this!
You know we have got along and we
can just little longer"
The words "Yes, my roy" were
hardly spoken, when the lad seized his
cap and rushed off to n "fve cent store
where Inc was soon busily engaged look
ing over the holiday goods displayed
upon its counters So much money
must be used iud ,ciously, and full
hour passed before he returned and
placed in his mothers lap n toy dish
pan, box of cooking utensils, slate,
n bright apron and child's goblet.
Z here were tears in the mother el es
that night as she slowed away these
treasures In the roo - where l was
watching and listening, and as she bent
over her boy and kissed him. l heard
her say:
"You are getting so like papa. Tim!'
And he threw both arms about her
and replied: al am going to be just like
him one of these days, little mother,
and then YOU sh Mt w rk or know
anything about care and troubled"
The afternoon Of tho day before
Christmas found all the preparations
complete. The principal work was